So there is this ancient safe in my garage - it was there when I bought this house. The brother and sister who inherited the house from their uncle didn't know what all was out there - but offered me $5,000 off the selling price if they didn't have to take the stuff away - done.
Their uncle did them no favors by giving them the place - they had to maintain it and pay property taxes and it sat empty for years.
This is a huge metal safe, very old, with a combination lock - and of course it is locked. I am finally getting around to looking for someone who might be able to open the safe. I want to know if there is anything in it. Knowing the man who lived here - there could be. He was a real estate agent and left behind boxes of old records, documents, keys, stuff from his time in France during World War II, etc.
I have been in contact with numerous locksmiths and master locksmiths. Most don't do anything with safes - a few do. We are talking about up to $250 to get the safe open and paying for travel time (closest person is 70 miles away). I sent photos to one gentleman - he says the safe isn't worth as much as I'm being told it is by sites like ebay, etc. - and that it could very well be empty - he has opened safes for people to find only a paper clip inside.
I feel like I can't go the rest of my life not knowing if there is anything in it. Would you pay the money to get the safe open? Would you try to find a NON-expert who would potentially run the safe but do it cheaper?
I'm seeing similar safes selling for a few hundred up to $3,500 - mine is in what I would guess to be "poor to fair" condition.
The Safe: What Would YOU Do?
The Safe: What Would YOU Do?
"All his life he tried to be a good person. Many times, however, he failed. After all, he was only human. He wasn't a dog."
Charles M. Schultz
Charles M. Schultz
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Re: The Safe: What Would YOU Do?
Considering what a pack rat the uncle was, I would pay to have it opened. It might have something valuable in it. If not, you can finally sell it once you have the combination.
Mackie
Re: The Safe: What Would YOU Do?
Tough call. Since you really want to know what's inside, I think I'd pay to have it opened, especially if you think you have a chance to sell it.
A non-expert might ruin it so that you can never get it open.
A non-expert might ruin it so that you can never get it open.
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Re: The Safe: What Would YOU Do?
I'd hire someone to open it. It would be part of my entertainment budget. You can sell it later and recoup some of the cost. It would lead to cleaning out the garage!
Regards,
JGomez
Regards,
JGomez
Re: The Safe: What Would YOU Do?
I would hire someone to open it cleanly. Even if there is nothing in it, the not knowing would drive a person crazy. I also think the safe would sell better if you could in fact show the interior.
Jackie
http://inthelandofthelivingskiesii.blogspot.ca/
http://inthelandofthelivingskiesii.blogspot.ca/
Re: The Safe: What Would YOU Do?
Sheila,
We had the same situation with a very old safe in my aunts basement...aunt and uncle were also packrats ...we used a lift to get it out of the basement and since it was on ancient rollers was able to roll it up into a truck and dad took it to his house.
Cleaned up the outside and found a metal plate with name of company, and a serial number. I researched the internet and found the company. If I remember correctly it had been sold and we found the currant company. After quite a few calls they sent the combination via mail. It is a very temperamental lock...a bear to open but we did it!
It did have stuff in it, mostly broken jewelry....and some paperwork from uncles deceased family. I have to say it was entertaining .
I think you should get it opened...
JCKitty
We had the same situation with a very old safe in my aunts basement...aunt and uncle were also packrats ...we used a lift to get it out of the basement and since it was on ancient rollers was able to roll it up into a truck and dad took it to his house.
Cleaned up the outside and found a metal plate with name of company, and a serial number. I researched the internet and found the company. If I remember correctly it had been sold and we found the currant company. After quite a few calls they sent the combination via mail. It is a very temperamental lock...a bear to open but we did it!
It did have stuff in it, mostly broken jewelry....and some paperwork from uncles deceased family. I have to say it was entertaining .
I think you should get it opened...
JCKitty